Devotional (Page 6)

Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow; tear your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive. (Joel 2:12-13) In the years before high school, my family and I were what I would call “church hoppers.” We attended somewhat regularly, but for various reasons we would attend one…

    In the process of being a Pastor, I am called upon to do different things. Sometimes it is praying for someone or just being quiet and listening. Sometimes I get to have a fun time and pray for a baby or officiate at a wedding. Most pastors do a lot of memorials. I love to walk along with others in whatever life event they are going through.   The last memorial was amazing. If ever there was a Proverbs 31 woman,…

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Very few places in scripture says what or who God is and yet the Apostle John writes in 1 John that God is light and then a few chapters later says that God is Love. Recently I read a book…

The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16–17 I’m sure we all know someone whose life circumstances just don’t seem fair.  We might say, “they’re such a good person.  Why do things like this happen to such good people?”  Even within our own congregation, I can think of…

Psalm 119: 147-149 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, That I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life. As a young man I heard over and over again the value and benefit of spending time with God. I was the oldest of seven children; Our house was busy…

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of participating in my mother-in-law’s memorial service.  As is true of most funerals, several people shared stories from her past.  It was great to remember fun shared times together.  I chose to spend my time looking to the future. I was thinking about the parable of the talents the other day.  I thought about how the master gave varying talents of money to his servants.  At the end of the parable the…

Psalms 27:13-14 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Waiting is sometimes a hard concept to tackle. We have to wait for test results, wait in lines, wait for our next vacation. We just finished Christmas and we see through our kids how hard it is to wait to open gifts. The waiting can…

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth…” (Matthew 5:1-5 NIV) Yesterday, I received my first “Happy New Year” card for 2024. My friend who sent the card filled…

We are almost to a New Year.  It is exciting to be looking forward to 2024. Before we leave this Christmas Season, I have a new thought for each of us to consider.  My text is Matthew 2:1-6 You are familiar with the story.  It is the story of the birth of Jesus.  The Magi came from the east and stopped in Jerusalem to visit King Herod.  They asked the King where the King of the Jews was born.   Most…

Ephesians 4:17, So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Galatians 2:14, When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it then, that you force Gentiles…

Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father  who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn’t change like  the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon.   James 1:17       Think back to the weeks leading up to Christmas when you were a little child. The anticipation grew each time a new present appeared under the tree.  For me, I’d sort, shake, try to peak and take wild guesses at…

Luke 1:46-55 (ESV) My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the…